Powerman Malaysia 2012

In 2011, I took part in Powerman for the first time, teamed up with my colleagues and join the team relay category with the team name MU. I was the second leg runner, completed the burning run under the hot sun. It’s suffering but the experience was so amazing, so I decided to take part in long distance category in 2012.

Bought my road bike at Feb 2012, however didn’t really train with it until Michelle Looi asked me to join her relay team in Port Dickson Triathlon 2012 as bike leg. Started to train more along Kesas highway with Damon and friends, as well as Hulu Langat with CK Chong and Chinese Cari Runners.

So after half year of registering in Powerman 2012, finally the big day has came, my first long distance Powerman. This year they held it at Putrajaya instead of Sri Manjung, Perak last year. The courses are 11.4KM run, 64KM bike and 11.4KM run again.

I was going with Kah Wai, reached there early in the morning, met CK Chong, Boon Bin and Leo Loo in the parking. After getting everything ready, it time for chit chatting and group photos 🙂

My target for this debut long distance event is to complete it within 5 hours: 1 hour for first run leg, 2 hours 30 min for bike leg and 1 hour 15 min for second run leg, 15 minutes for 2 transitions.

Running at the first run leg was an easy one, felt fresh and relax, completed first 11KM in 1 hour with Chau Kok Yik and John Ng. Met the target time.

Running first leg (Photo by Elaine Tan & Victor Chong)

After completed the run, went into transition area to put on my helmet and gloves, got some bites of PowerBar, then slowly pushed my bike out of transition area and started my ride.

Cycling leg (Photo by Kahwai Gallery)

At first it was smooth ride, however my left leg started to feel a little cramp at around 10KM, consumed a PowerGel at around 15KM, tried to do stretching on the bike whenever I went downhill, the cramp was still manageable. Completed first loop (32KM) at 1 hour 10 minutes, which was better than my expectation.

After taking second PowerGel, continued to second loop, now my legs were tired and fatigue. It was a suffering one, the speed was slow, most of the time was just try to push myself going. Took third PowerGel around 45KM. At the last 5KM I just rode slowly, tried to get my legs rest and be ready for the second run leg, took the fourth PowerGel while approaching transition area. Completed the bike leg at 2 hours 27 minutes, still within target.

Cycling leg (Photo by Ivy Yee)

Spent some time in transition area, removed helmet and gloves, apply more sun block, get more bites on PowerBar, put on my visor and slowly walked out from transition area. However after few hundred meters of running from transition area, my legs were cramp real bad. This never happened before in my (short) running life, was a bit worry could not finish the race within target. Luckily Malcalm came and accompanied and comforted me.

Second running leg with Malcalm (Photo by Shafiz Sazanusa of Saza Studio)

After the first loop, the cramp still haunting me. Malcalm had moved on, met other runners including David Ong, which were also suffering muscles fatigue and cramp. I saw some runners applied ice on muscles, so I tried myself too. Amazingly the cramp and pain were gone after I applied ice, so I could pick up the speed. So I stopped at almost every water station to drink and get ice from their tanks. I putted the ice into the plastic bags that the water station crews remove from the stack of paper cups, then brought the ice with me and continue running, and applied the ice when the cramp stuck.

Continued running until the last water station, which around few hundred meters from finishing line, I applied the ice on my both legs for the last time, then dumped the ice bag and ran back to finishing line. Of course the cramp still came back after a while but since I was so close to the finishing line, I just ignore the pain to continue ran cross the finishing line (runner high did help a bit here). Completed the second run leg with the time 1 hour 17 min.

Approaching finishing line (Photo by Tey Eng Tiong)

While queueing up to collect finishing medal, here my legs were cramp and my muscles seems twisted so hard, but the pain was worth it. Completed the whole event with 4 hours 55 min (official net time). Probably I am the first one to complete Powerman event by running both running legs with barefoot? XD

Enjoyed the great completion buffet lunch in the air-conditioned hall was such a great moment of the day 😀

Buffet after the event (with CK Chong, photo by Kahwai Gallery)

Nice medal was awarded, although the finisher tee is just so so, but still a very good event, will join 2013 event, hopefully with improved time.